Ukraine Inquiry Finds That Police Snipers Killed Protesters

A man with a gun runs along a street during a clash between opposition protesters and riot police at a burning barricades near the Presidential office in Kiev, Ukraine, in February.

Efrem Lukatsky
/ AP

Originally published on April 4, 2014 9:48 am

Ukraine's interim government on Thursday issued a report that accuses ousted President Viktor Yanukovych of ordering police snipers to fire on protesters during anti-government demonstrations, a day after the former leader denied the charge.

The Associated Press quotes acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov as saying Yanukovych also "employed gangs of killers, kidnappers and thugs to terrorize and undermine the opposition during Ukraine's tumultuous winter of discontent."

More than 100 people were killed by gunfire — many by sniper fire — in the run-up to Yanukovych's ouster in February.

Avakov said 12 Berkut (special forces) police snipers had been arrested in connection with the finding.